To commission Bulava, six effective launches are required – Ivanov

Prior to commission of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Bulava, six more test launches must be held successfully, reported Russian Vice Premier Sergei Ivanov at the press conference.

"One launch by the new sub and five qualification test launches are required", said Ivanov having specified that the missile will have to be launched six times more.

According to the official, one launch is to be conducted this year, other five – in the next one.

"It is absolutely obvious that there are no designers' errors", said Ivanov commenting the reasons of previous faults.

"As I said before, the origin of previous mishaps is manufacturing defect", pointed out Ivanov.

He explained that 620 companies are involved in the missile production, and less than 20 of them are subordinated to Roskosmos. To eliminate possibility of scrap, one need to have inspector at every company, said Ivanov.

"That's our production culture", he added ruefully.

SLBM Bulava is expected to become a core of Russia's naval nuclear forces; new Bulava-carrying submarines have been already laid down.